Follow Your Heart (Catalina Cove #4) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,106

at the way things had turned out today. She loved weddings, especially when it was one of her own kin getting hitched. She glanced across the room at the groom’s aunt, Nora Parker, caught her eye and winked. A Malone had married a Madaris.

Mission accomplished.

She looked around the reception’s ballroom and chuckled when she saw her great-grands and their friends huddled together in a pack. The single ones had tried avoiding her today but discovered they couldn’t. Out of respect they had spoken and had given her the kiss on the cheek and asked about her well-being. Then they had high-tailed it away once they’d done so.

This was the first wedding she’d ever attended where the single men refused to participate in the garter toss. How crazy was that? After taking a sip of her punch, she noticed three single ladies and several pairs of male eyes who were checking them out. Hmm...

Whether they knew it or not, three of those men were making things easy for her since the interest was already there. All of her great-grands thought they weren’t ready for love and marriage in the beginning, but soon discovered how wrong they were.

She leaned back in her chair, thinking she loved helping them discover love in its purest form and with the perfect partner.

Now, on to the next.

* * *

Return to Jackson Falls for the next sexy and irresistible book in Synithia Williams’s reader-favorite series featuring the Robidoux family!

When everything is working to keep them apart, can these two former enemies learn to trust one another for a chance at forever?

Read on for a sneak peek of Careless Whispers

Careless Whispers

by Synithia Williams

ELAINA TURNED TO face him, her heart pounding again and a dozen warning bells going off in her head. She should shut down the flirting, but the look in Alex’s eyes said he was willing to go with her down this path. “I’ve got some experience with wanting the wrong man.”

“But that’s all in your past now.” He took a half step closer.

She shook her head. She’d never been good at not going for what she wanted. Her ego needed stroking, and Alex with his quiet understanding and empathy had shown her more care than anyone had in a long time. She’d be smarter this time. This was just to quell her curiosity. People said there was a thin line between love and hate. Maybe all their bickering had just been leading to this.

“Not quite,” she said, choosing her next words carefully. She pretended to check the list in her box. “I find myself thinking about someone who I once despised. I miss clashing with him daily. I enjoy the verbal sparring. Not to mention he recently wrapped his arms around me and for some reason I can’t get that out of my head.” She glanced at him. “He’s stronger than I imagined. His embrace comforting in a way I didn’t realize I’d like. It makes me want more even though I know I shouldn’t.”

Alex stilled next to her. “What are you going to do about this ill-advised craving?”

“It kind of depends on him,” she said. “I think he’s interested, but I can’t be sure. And you know I can never offer myself to a man who didn’t want me.” She said the last part with a slight shrug. Though her heart imitated a hummingbird against her ribs, and a mixture of excitement and adrenaline flowed with each beat.

Alex slid closer, closing the distance between them, and filling her senses with him. He pulled the paper out of her hands. “What if he wants you, too?”

His deep voice slid over her like warm satin. She faced him and met his dark eyes. “Then I’m in trouble, because I’m no good at saying no to the things I want but shouldn’t have.”

Alex watched her for several heartbeats. The pulse beat quickly at the base of his neck. A question hovered in his eye. Was she being genuine, or was she playing with him? She wasn’t about to back down now. Not after she’d worked up the courage to acknowledge the attraction humming between them.

Before he could let common sense kill the moment she lifted on her toes and brushed her lips across his. “Tell me, Alex, am I in trouble?”

Alex’s strong arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her carefully against his body as if she were precious. Emotion squeezed her chest while a jolt of desire rushed through her. She never could resist a man willing